Default Oracle Solaris File Systems

The ZFS file system is hierarchical, starting with the root directory (/) and
continuing downwards through a number of directories. The Oracle Solaris installation process enables
you to install a default set of directories and uses a set of
conventions to group similar types of files together.

For a brief overview of Oracle Solaris file systems and directories, see filesystem(5).

The following table provides a summary of the default Oracle Solaris file systems.

Table 14-1 The Default Oracle Solaris File Systems

File
System or Directory

File System Type

Description

root (/)

UFS or ZFS

The top of the
hierarchical file tree. The root (/) directory contains the directories and files that
are critical for system operation, such as the kernel, the device drivers, and
the programs used to boot the system. The root (/) directory also
contains the mount point directories where local and remote file systems can be
attached to the file tree.

/usr

UFS or ZFS

System files and directories that can be
shared with other users. Files that run only on certain types of systems
are in the /usr directory (for example, SPARC executables). Files that can be
used on all types of systems, such as the man pages, might be
placed in the /usr/share directory.

/export/home or /home

NFS, UFS, or ZFS

The mount point
for user home directories, which store user work files. By default, the /home
directory is an automounted file system.

/var

UFS or ZFS

System files and directories that
are likely to change or grow over the life of the local system.
These include system logs, such as vi and ex backup files.

/opt

NFS, UFS, or ZFS

Optional mount point for third-party software. On some systems,
the /opt directory might be a UFS file system or ZFS file
system.

/tmp

TMPFS

Temporary files, which are removed each time the system is booted
or the /tmp file system is unmounted.

/proc

PROCFS

A list of active processes,
by process number.

/etc/mnttab

MNTFS

A virtual file system that provides read-only access to the table
of mounted file systems for the local system.

/system/volatile

TMPFS

A memory-based file system for storing
temporary files that are not needed after the system is booted.

/system/contract

CTFS

A virtual file
system that maintains contract information.

/system/object

OBJFS

A virtual file system that is used by
debuggers to access information about kernel symbols without having to access the kernel
directly.